Sheet feeding apparatus

ABSTRACT

The sheet feeding apparatus includes a gear drivingly connected to the press for rotation in timed relation therewith. A pair of endless cam mechanisms are connected to the drive gear for rotation therewith. A rack actuator mechanism is mounted on a block member and is arranged to reciprocate upon rotation of the drive gear. The rack actuator has a first cam follower arranged to be maintained in abutting relation with one of the cam members associated with the drive gear. The rack actuator has a second cam follower arranged to be maintained in abutting relation with the second cam member associated with the drive gear. The rack actuator has a gear holder in which a rack gear is positioned. The rack gear is in meshing relation with a pinion gear nonrotatably connected to the drive roller shaft. Reciprocation of the rack gear oscillates the feed roller to feed sheets at a preselected velocity into the press. One of the cam rollers is mounted on a shaft that is eccentrically mounted on a disc rotatably supported on the rack actuator and resilient means rotatably urges the disc member to maintain the cam follower in abutting relation with one of the cam surfaces.

Unite StatesPatent [191 I Weisgerber Oct. 15, 1974 1 SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Willi Weisgerber, Johannisberg,

' Germany [73] Assignee: Miller Printing Machinery Co.,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Mar. 1, 1973 [21] AppL'No; 336,967

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Assistant ExaminerJames W. Miller Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stanley J. Price, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT The sheet feeding apparatus includes a gear drivingly connected to the press for rotation in timed relation therewith. A pair of endless cam mechanisms are connected to the drive gear for rotation therewith. A rack actuator mechanism is mounted on a block member and is arranged to reciprocate upon rotation of the drive gear. The rack actuator has a first cam follower arranged to be maintained in abutting relation with one of the cam members associated with the drive gear. The rack actuator has a second cam follower arranged to be maintained in abutting relation with the second cam member associated with the drive gear. The rack actuator has a gear holder in which a rack gear is positioned. The rack gear is in meshing relation with a pinion gear non rotatably connected to the drive roller shaft. Reciprocation of the rack gear oscillates the feed roller to feed sheets at a preselected velocity into the press. One of the cam rollers is mounted on a shaft that is eccentrically mounted on a disc rotatably supported on the rack actuator and resilient means rotatably urges the disc member to maintain the cam follower in abutting relation with one of the cam surfaces. 1

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTED DUI I 5 I974 SHEET 2 OF 2 t snnar FEEDING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to sheet feeding apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for feeding sheets to a printing press.

2. Description of the Prior Art Individual sheets are fed to a printing press by conveying the sheets downwardly along an inclined feedboard to a front register device. The sheets are thereafter moved laterally into side register, so that the sheet is properly orientedfor feeding into the printing press. Thereafter, the oriented sheet is conveyed by feed rolls at a preselected velocity into the press in timed relation with a transfer cylinder, or directly to a printing cylinder, and the front edge of the sheet is moved into abutting relation with stops on the transfer cylinder. After the sheet is moved into abutting relation with the stops it is engaged by grippers. The sheet engaged by the front edge is thereafter conveyed into the press by rotation of the transfer cylinder or directly by rotation of the printing cylinder respectively.

After the sheet has attained both front and side register, underlying feed rolls are arranged to rotate and convey the sheet toward the transfer cylinder or toward the printing cylinder at a preselected velocity. Pressure rolls positioned above the sheet are arranged to move downwardly into engagement with the upper surface of the sheet so that the sheet is frictionally engaged with the feed rolls positioned therebeneath. The feed rolls are oscillated at a preselected angular velocity and in timed relation with the printing press, so that the sheet from edge portion is delivered to the stop on the rotating transfer cylinder and a preselected buckle is imparted to the sheet. The buckle maintains the front edge of the sheet in abutting relation with the stops while the front edge is engaged between grippers on the transfer cylinder or the printing cylinder.

In the past, as illustrated and described in US. Pat. No. 2,708,405, the feed roll is oscillated by means of the linear movement of a gear rack that is in meshing relation with a gear drivingly connected to the feed roll shaft. The rack mechanism is actuated by means of a cam follower connected to the rack and in abutting relation with the surface of a non-circular cam. Spring means are provided to maintain the cam follower in abutting relation with the cam surface. The spring means is forced to make the whole way of the travelling cam follower. With this arrangement, the spring is required to exert a resilient force greater than'the inertia force and other forces; for example, friction and the like, to maintain the cam follower on the cam surface. The spring member limits substantially the speed at which the sheets are fed to the press, since the inertia forces are not directly proportional to the press speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sheet feeding apparatus that includes a first shaft member rotatably supported in a portion of the frame. A gear is non-rotatably mounted on the shaft and arranged to rotate the shaft at a preselected velocity. A first cam member is non-rotatably secured to the shaft for rotation therewith and a second cam member is also non-rotatably secured to the shaft for rotation therewith. Arack actuator is positioned between the cam members and is arranged toreciprocate relative thereto. The rack actuator has. a first cam fol lower positioned in overlying relation with a cam surface on one of the cam members. The rack actuator has a second cam follower that is positioned in overlying relation with a cam surface of the second cam member. A second shaft member is rotatably supported in the frame portion and has a drive'pinion and delivery rolls non-rotatably mounted thereon. A gear rack secured to and extending from the rack actuator is arranged in meshing relation with the pinion gear, so that upon reciprocation of the rack member the second shaft member through the pinion gear oscillates the feed rolls.

Another feature of the invention includes a means to maintain at least one and preferably both of the cam followers in abutting relation with the underlying cam surfaces. With this arrangement, the plurality of cams and cam followers eliminate the requirement of resilient means to maintain the cam followers in abutting relation with the respective cam surfaces.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide sheet feeding apparatus in which the actuator mechanism for the delivery rolls does not require resilient means which have to make the maximum travel of the cam surface to maintain the cam followers in abutting relation with the cam surfaces.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus in which a plurality of cam followers continually control the actuation of the feed rolls.

These and other objects of this invention will be more completely disclosed and described in the following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along the line III--III of FIG. 1, illustrating the rack in a retracted position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the cam roller pressure means to maintain the outboard cam roller in abutting relation with the surface of the cam.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the cam roller pressure means illustrated in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS To simplify the illustration of the invention, only those components of the sheet feeding apparatus are illustrated which are essential to the understanding of the invention. In particular, the apparatus for feeding the sheets to the feed rolls, the transfer cylinder respectively the printing cylinder to receive the sheets and the drive gearing for the feed rolls from the press are not illustrated. It should be understood, however, that the hereinafter described invention may be utilized with known sheet feeder apparatus, including conventional apparatus for feeding the sheets to the feed rolls and for receiving the sheets delivered by the feed rolls.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, there is illustrated a fragmentary view of the drive feed roll drive shaft 14 suitably journaled therein. A

feed roller 16 is schematically illustrated connected to the feed roll drive shaft 14 and a pressure roll 18 is schematically illustrated in abutting relation with the feed roll. This is the position of the pressure roll 18 when the feed roll is conveying sheets into the press. Means, not shown, are provided to move the pressure roll 18 into and out of abutting relation with the'feed roll 16. A sheet support plate 20 is illustrated in the figures supported by a frame 22 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

The feed roll drive shaft 14 is supported outboard of the frame 12 by a bracket 24 and has a pinion gear 26 non-rotatably mounted thereon. A second gear 28 is also mounted on the'feed roll drive shaft 14 and is arranged to drive other elements of the sheet feeder.

A feed roll drive gear 30 is suitably journaled on a shaft 32 mounted in the frame member 12 and is arranged to be driven in timed relation with the press. The gear as an axial bore 34 and a cam support member 36 has an axial bore 38 which is non-rotatably positioned on the shaft 32. The support member 36 has a circular surface 40 on which the surface of bore 34 of gear 30 is positioned, so that the gear 30, upon rotation, rotates the cam support member 36 in timed relation thereto.

The cam support member 36 has a cam portion 42, which will also be referred to hereafter as the first cam 42. The first cam 42 has an endless non-circular outer cam surface 44, as illustrated in FIG. 3. With the above described arrangement, the first cam 42 rotates in timed relation with the drive gear 30.

A second cam 46 has an axial passageway 48 therethrough and an endless non-circular outer cam surface 50 The cam 46 has an annular sleeve portion 52 and the shaft 32 extends through the axial passageway48 in the cam 46 and sleeve portion 52. A key 54 nonrotatable secures the cam 46 to the shaft 32, so that rotation of gear 30 is transmitted through shaft 32 to cam '46. With this arrangement, both the first cam 42 and the second cam 46 are driven by gear 30 and rotate in timed relation to the press.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a rack actuator 56 has a generally rectangular configuration with spaced side portions 53 and 60, a lower transverse base portion 62 and an upper transverse portion 64. There is formed between the side portions 58 and 60 and upper and lower portions 62 and 64 a generally rectangular opening designated by the numeral 66. A rectangular block member 68 is positioned in the opening 66 and abuts the inner surfaces of surfaces of side members 58 and 60. The block member 68 has a central passageway 70 through which the sleeve portion 52 extends. The sleeve portion 52 is, however, rotatable relative to the block member 68. The block member 68 serves as a guide for the rack actuator 56 as it is reciprocated by the cams 42 and 46.

A rack holder 72 extends upwardly from the rack actuator 56 and has a gear rack 74 secured thereto. The gear rack 74 is in meshing relation with the pinion gear 26 and is arranged by vertical reciprocation of the rack actuator 56 to oscillate the pinion gear 26, shaft 14 and the feed roller 16 connected thereto.

The rack actuator base portion 62 has a circular bore 76 therethrough and a passageway 78 that extends radially from the bore 76 to the outer side surface 80 of actuator base portion 62. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5,

a disc like member 82 is positioned in the bore 76 and has an arm 84 extending outwardly therefrom through the radial passageway 86. A pin member 88 secures the arm 84 to the disc 82. The arm 84 extends through the passageway 78 in slit form beyond the base portion 62.

It should be noted that the slit like passageway 78 in gear rack actuator base portion 62 is higher than the arm 84.

' The disc 82 has a stub shaft 90 extending longitudinally therefrom with the axis of the shaft 90 spaced axially from the axis of the disc 82. A cam follower 92 is rotatably mounted on the stub shaft 90 and the cam follower 92 is arranged to abut the surface 44 of the first cam 42.

The rack support member 56 has a passageway 98 through the upper portion 64 and an enlarged circular recessed portion 100. A second cam follower 102 has a bolt 104 extending through the passageway 98 and a nut 106 rotatably secures the shaft 104 in passageway 98 and is positioned in the recessed portion 100. The cam follower 102 is arranged to abut the surface 50 of the second cam 46.

With the above arrangement, rotation of gear 30 transmits rotation to the respective first cam 42 and second cam 46. Cam followers 92 and 102 abut the respective cam surfaces 44 and 50 and are arranged, upon rotation of gear 30, to reciprocate the rack actuator support 56 on the block member 68 to thus reciprocate the rack 74 which, in turn, oscillactes the pinion gear 26. It should be noted with this arrangement that the pair of cam followers 92 and 102 remain in abutting relation with the respective cam surfaces 44 and 50 to positively'reciprocate the rack support 56 without requiring the use of resilient means to maintain a single cam follower on the cam surface.

The cam followers 92 and 102 are maintained in abutting relation with the respective cam surfaces 44 and 50 of the first and second cams 42 and 46 by means of the eccentric arrangement of shaft 90 on which cam follower 92 is mounted.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the rack support actuator 56 has a shoulder 108 extending laterally from the side portion 58. The shoulder portion 108 has a vertical threaded bore 110 in which an adjusting bolt 112 is positioned. The adjusting bolt 112 has an end portion 114 of reduced diameter that extends into a recess 116 of a pin 118. A spring member 120 extends around the end portion 114 of adjusting bolt 112 and urges the pin member 118 downwardly. The arm 84 has a flat face portion 122 against which the ball like end portion 124 of pin 118 abuts. The pin 118, by means of spring 120, urges the arm 84 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in F IG. 4, which, in turn, tends to rotate the disc like member 82 in the cylindrical bore 76. The eccentricity of the stub shaft 90 and cam follower 92 urges the cam follower 92 upwardly against the cam surface 44 of first cam 42 and thus maintains both cam followers 92 and 102 in abutting relation with the respective cam surfaces 44 and 50. The above arrangement compensates for any cam or cam follower deviation and maintains both cam followers in abutting relation with the respective cams and prevents any lost motion of the rack member 74 during reciprocation, so that the drive shaft 14 is always controlled by the cam followers 92 and 102 on the cam surfaces 44 and 50.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have now, explained the principle, preferred construction and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what is considered to represent its best embodiment. However, it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the

invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim: 1. In a sheet feeding apparatus the combination comprising,

a first shaft member rotatably supported in a frame portion, I a gear non-rotatably mounted on said first shaft and arranged to rotate said shaft at a preselected velocity, a first cam member non-rotatably secured to said first shaft for rotation therewith, a second cam member non-rotatably secured to said first shaft for rotation therewith, a rack actuator positioned between said cam members and arranged to reciprocate relative thereto,

said rack actuator having a first cam follower positioned in overlying relation with a cam surface of said first cam member, 7

said rack actuator having a second cam follower positioned in overlying relation with a cam surface of said second cam member,

means to urge both of said cam followers against said respective cam surfaces of both of said cam members,

a second shaft member rotatably supported in said frame portion with feed rolls non-rotatably mounted thereon,

said second shaft having a drive pinion non-rotatably mounted thereon, and v a gear rack secured to and extending from said rack actuator in meshing relation with said pinion gear so that upon reciprocation of said rack actuator 40 mg Shoulder POrtion with a longitudinal said pinion gear and said second shaft oscillate said feed rolls. 2. A sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

eccentric means and resilient means to urge one of said cam followers in abutting relation with said underlying cam surface. 3. A sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which,

said rack actuator includes a central opening having ,linear inner side walls, a block member having a central bore therethrough and linear side walls, said block member rotatably positioned on said first shaft member with said linear side walls in abuttingrelation with said rack actuator linear side walls so that upon reciprocating of said rack actuator said rack actuator side walls reciprocate on said block member side walls.

4. A sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said eccentric means to maintain at least one of said cam followers in abutting relation with said underlying cam surface includes,

a bore in said rack actuator,

a disc member positioned in said bore,

a shaft member extending from said disc member with the axis of said shaft member axially displaced from the axis of said disc member,

one of said cam members rotatably mounted on said last named shaft member, and

said resilient means arranged to rotatably urge said disc member in said bore to thereby urge said cam follower into abutting relation with said cam surface.

5. A sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said resilient means to maintain at least one of said cam followers in abutting relation with said underlying cam surface includes,

a spring member connected to said rack actuator and urging one of said cam followers into abutting relation with said underlying cam surface.

6. A sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which,

said rack actuator includes a passageway extending radially from said bore,

an arm member connected to said disc and arranged .to urge said disc in a preselected direction,

means engaging said arm member arranged to rotate said disc and urge said cam member into abutting relation with said underlying cam surface.

7. A sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said rack actuator includes a laterally extendbore therethrough,

bolt means threadably secured in said shoulder portion longitudinal bore, pin means positioned in said shoulder portion longitudinal bore,

an arm member connected to said disc member and extending through a radial passageway in said rack actuator,

said pin member abutting said arm member,

said resilient means positioned between said bolt member and said pin member and arranged to urge said arm member in a preselected direction to thereby urge one of said cam members into abutting relation with said underlying cam surface. l 

1. In a sheet feeding apparatus the combination comprising, a first shaft member rotatably supported in a frame portion, a gear non-rotatably mounted on said first shaft and arranged to rotate said shaft at a preselected velocity, a first cam member non-rotatably secured to said first shaft for rotation therewith, a second cam member non-rotatably secured to said first shaft for rotation therewith, a rack actuator positioned between said cam members and arranged to reciprocate relative thereto, said rack actuator having a first cam follower positioned in overlying relation with a cam surface of said first cam member, said rack actuator having a second cam follower positioned in overlying relation with a cam surface of said second cam member, means to urge both of said cam followers against said respective cam surfaces of both of said cam members, a second shaft member rotatably supported in said frame portion with feed rolls non-rotatably mounted thereon, said second shaft having a drive pinion non-rotatably mounted thereon, and a gear rack secured to and extending from said rack actuator in meshing relation with said pinion gear so that upon reciprocation of said rack actuator said pinion gear and said second shaft oscillate said feed rolls.
 2. A sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes, eccentric means and resilient means to urge one of said cam followers in abutting relation with said underlying cam surface.
 3. A sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which, said rack actuator includes a central opening having linear inner side walls, a block member having a central bore therethrough and linear side walls, said block member rotatably positioned on said first shaft member with said linear side walls in abutting relation with said rack actuator linear side walls so that upon reciprocating of said rack actuator said rack actuator side walls reciprocate on said block member side walls.
 4. A sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said eccentric means to maintain at least one of said cam followers in abutting relation with said underlying cam surface includes, a bore in said rack actuator, a disc member positioned in said bore, a shaft member extending from said disc member with the axis of said shaft member axially displaced from the axis of said disc member, one of said cam members rotatably mounted on said last named shaft member, and said resilient means arranged to rotatably urge said disc member in said bore to thereby urge said cam follower into abutting relation with said cam surface.
 5. A sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said resilient means to maintain at least one of said cam followers in abutting relation with said underlying cam surface includes, a spring member connected to said rack actuator and urging one of said cam followers into abutting relation with said underlying cam surface.
 6. A sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which, said rack actuator includes a passageway extending radially from said bore, an arm member connected to said disc and arranged to urge said disc in a preselected direction, means engaging said arm member arranged to rotate said disc and urge said cam member into abutting relation with said underlying cam surface.
 7. A sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said rack actuator includes a laterally extending shoulder portion with a longitudinal bore therethrough, bolt means threadably secured in said shoulder portion longitudinal bore, pin means positioned in said shoulder portion longitudinal bore, an arm member connected to said disc member and extending through a radial passageway in said rack actuator, said pin member abutting said arm member, said resilient means positioned between said bolt member and said pin member and arranged to urge said arm member in a preselected direction to thereby urge one of said cam members into abutting relation with said underlying cam surface. 